Grand Junction VCB Announces New Summer Events to Help Visitors Get Their “Wheels A-Rollin'”

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New summer events offer more reasons to visit Colorado's Wine Country

Biking the Colorado National Monument

Grand Junction draws athletes of all kind to play in the sun – this summer more than ever

Grand Junction, CO (PRWEB)March 28, 2013

The Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau (GJVCB) has announced new and second year events for the 2013 summer season. Named one of the eight sunniest cities in the U.S. by TourismReview.com, Grand Junction boasts ideal weather on top of a breathtaking landscape.

Red rock canyons and mesas surround hundreds of miles of world-class mountain biking trails. Grand Junction draws athletes of all kind to play in the sun – this summer more than ever. The complete summer events schedule is available online at http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/events-calendar.

Rumble at 18 Road Mountain Bike Race:
April 13-14
Sanctioned by USA Cycling and run by local cycling promoter LTR Events, the Rumble at 18 Road is a National Qualifying Mountain Bike Race. Still fresh in its second year, races take place in the famous 18 Road trails of the North Fruita Desert. Saturday, April 13, is a cross-country mountain bike event, and Sunday, April 14, is a short track race. Events have 32 different categories each day for amateurs and professional athletes with awards to the top three finishers in each and a professional prize purse of $350, $250 and $150. The top 10 riders in each class and category qualify to compete in USA Cycling National Championships! For details visit: http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/rumble-18-road-2nd-annual-0

HITS Triathlon Series:
May 18-19
HITS Triathlon Series will debut in Grand Junction May 18-19. A clean swim, flat ride and quiet run are in store for triathletes at Highline Lake State Park with over 1,000 athletes racing during the two-day event. The series includes “a distance for everyone” with five race distances for every level of competitor. The event features the half and full distance races on Saturday, May 18, and the open, sprint and Olympic distance races on Sunday, May 19, as well as a Fitness Festival throughout the whole weekend. HITS Triathlon Series welcomes volunteers, spectators and athletes. For details visit: http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/hits-triathlon-series-and-fitness-festival-0

Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) Summer Games:
June 1-2
GJVCB teams with Colorado Mesa University to host the 2013 Special Olympics, Colorado's State Summer Games. It is the largest and most prestigious competition of the year for athletes with disabilities in the state of Colorado. This will be the first time a statewide competition of this scale has been held on the Western Slope since the organization began the games in 1969. They expect to have approximately 1,200 athletes participate will compete in track and field, gymnastics, swimming, power lifting and soccer over the course of two days. Volunteers, coaches, event managers, supporters, donors, sponsors, and families will embark on the event hosting numerous social events and educational booths in addition to the athletic competition. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule, visit http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/special-olympics-colorado-summer-games.

The Grand Junction Off-Road Endurance Mountain Bike Event and Free Community Concert Presented by U.S. Bank:
Aug. 30 -Sept. 1 (Labor Day Weekend)
Labor Day weekend means three days of celebrating mountain bikes in the Grand Valley. Arizona-based Epic Rides’ is bringing their commitment to fun, challenging and family-friendly mountain bike events out of state for the first time with the Inaugural Grand Junction Off-Road Endurance Mountain Bike Event and Free Community Concert presented by U.S. Bank. Three routes will start and finish in downtown Grand Junction and traverse the Lunch Loops Trail System and beyond while pushing riders to the limit on the area’s world-class selection of trails. 15, 30 and 40 Grand amateur events (1 Grand = 1 mile) will take place on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will be the exclamation point on the weekend when it hosts the Pro 40 Grand professional race with $20,000 cash purse (rare equal male/female payout opportunity) and the Shimano Kids Fun Ride. Bring the entire family for a weekend packed with entertainment via amateur riding, pro racing, a massive industry expo, free live music and more! For details visit: http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/gr-jct-road-endurance-mtn-bike-event-free-community-concert.

Western Colorado Classic Auto Event:
Aug. 30-Sept. 2 (Labor Day Weekend)
Hilltop Community Resources’ First Annual auto event fundraiser will be held over Labor Day weekend, with proceeds to benefit Hilltop's 26 programs that provide compassionate care for children and adults, plus helps to fund the domestic violence programs and the brain injury center. The event will feature more than 500 classic autos and is open to sports cars, hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods, trucks, vintage motorcycles and tractors, and specialty vehicles with 33 classes. This fun car show will be held both Saturday and Sunday at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction. RV and trailer parking will be available. Lots of food and beverages, live music, entertainment and drawings, plus more will make the weekend very special. For details visit http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/western-colorado-classic-auto-event.

Icon Lasik Tour of the Moon:
Oct. 5
Returning to Grand Junction after a successful inaugural year, Icon Lasik Tour of the Moon is considered one of the premier recreational road rides in the western United States. There’s a course change in store this year that will lead all riders – whether on the 62-mile or the 41-mile tour – over the finish line at the Colorado National Monument. The post-ride “Harvest Moon Celebration” will include music, lunch, drawings and an expo. For details visit: http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/tour-moon-cycling-classic-1.

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About Grand Junction (http://www.visitgrandjunction.com)
Colorado Wine Country features 21 wineries with year-round tasting rooms and boasts more than 275 days of sunshine annually. Grand Junction has been named one of the eight sunniest cities in the United States by TourismReview.com. It is nestled near the 11,000-foot Grand Mesa and the 7,500-foot Book Cliffs. Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. At an altitude of 4,586 feet, warm summers and moderate spring, fall and winter seasons allow for year-round golf, hiking and biking. Among Grand Junction's spectacular red cliffs and winding canyons are the Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat-topped mountain, the Colorado National Monument, Bookcliff Wild Horse Area, two national scenic byways and five golf courses. Grand Junction lies in the heart of the Colorado-Utah Dinosaur Diamond.